Detection device and display device

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a substrate; a detection electrode provided in a display region on a plane parallel to the substrate, the detection electrode including a plurality of metal wires; a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral region located to the outside the display region; a protective layer provided on the detection electrode; a polarizing plate provided above the protective layer; and a second conductive layer provided between the polarizing plate and the protective layer in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The second conductive layer has a higher sheet resistance than the metal wires and is electrically coupled to the first conductive layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Application No.2017-039794, filed on Mar. 2, 2017, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a detection device and a displaydevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

Touch detection apparatuses, what are called touch panels, capable ofdetecting an external proximity object have recently been attractingattention. Touch panels are mounted on, or integrated with a displaydevice, such as a liquid crystal display device, and used as displaydevices with a touch detection function. Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open Publication No. 2012-063839 (JP-A-2012-063839) discloses adisplay device with a touch detection function that includes touchdetection electrodes, a polarizing plate, and a conductive filminterposed therebetween. The conductive film is provided as apreventative measure against electro-static discharge (ESD).

Such a display devices with a touch detection function may include aprotective layer for protecting touch detection electrodes. In such acase, the conductive film is electrically isolated from the touchdetection electrodes with the protective layer interposed therebetween,so that the conductive film is likely to be charged with staticelectricity applied to the polarizing plate.

SUMMARY

A detection device according to one embodiment includes a substrate, adetection electrode provided in a display region on a plane parallel tothe substrate, the detection electrode including a plurality of metalwires, a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral region locatedto the outside of the display region, a protective layer provided on thedetection electrode, a polarizing plate provided above the protectivelayer, and a second conductive layer provided between the polarizingplate and the protective layer in a direction perpendicular to thesubstrate. The second conductive layer has a higher sheet resistancethan the metal wires and is electrically coupled to the first conductivelayer.

A display device according to one embodiment includes a detection devicedescribed above, a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a planeparallel to the substrate, the pixel electrodes being disposed facingthe detection electrode in a matrix configuration, and a displayfunction layer configured to be driven by signals.

A detection device according to one embodiment includes a firstsubstrate, a plurality of detection electrodes disposed in a matrixconfiguration in a display region on a plane parallel to the firstsubstrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a firstconductive layer provided in a peripheral region located to the outsidethe display region in planar view, a polarizing plate provided above thesecond substrate, and a second conductive layer provided between thepolarizing plate and the second substrate. The second conductive layeris electrically coupled to the first conductive layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of adisplay device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the basic principle ofmutual capacitance touch detection;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exemplary equivalentcircuit for mutual capacitance touch detection;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating examples of waveforms of a drive signaland a detection signal for mutual capacitance touch detection;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof the display device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram representing a pixel array of a displayportion;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first substrate according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second substrate according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating, in an enlarged manner, the region Raillustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuitaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a protective layer according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining flows ofstatic electricity;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a protective layer according to thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a second substrate according to the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a protective layer according to thethird embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a protective layer according to thefourth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining flows ofstatic electricity according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a second substrate according to the fifthembodiment;

FIG. 23 is a plan view partially illustrating, in an enlarged manner, adetection electrode according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a first substrate according to the sixthembodiment;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a second substrate according to the sixthembodiment;

FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuitaccording to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a first substrate according to the seventhembodiment; and

FIG. 30 is a plan view of a second substrate according to the seventhembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary aspects (embodiments) to embody the present disclosure aredescribed below in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The contents described in the embodiments are not intended tolimit the present disclosure. Components described below includecomponents easily conceivable by those skilled in the art and componentssubstantially identical therewith. Furthermore, the components describedbelow may be appropriately combined. The disclosure is given by way ofexample only, and appropriate modifications made without departing fromthe spirit of the disclosure and easily conceivable by those skilled inthe art naturally fall within the scope of the disclosure. To simplifythe explanation, the drawings may possibly illustrate the width, thethickness, the shape, and other elements of each unit more schematicallythan the actual aspect. These elements, however, are given by way ofexample only and are not intended to limit interpretation of thedisclosure. In the present specification and the figures, componentssimilar to those previously described with reference to previous figuresare denoted by like reference numerals, and overlapping explanationthereof may be appropriately omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of adisplay device according to a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.1, a display device 1 includes a display panel 10, a controller 11, agate driver 12, a source driver 13, a drive-electrode driver 14, and adetector 40. The display panel 10 includes a display portion 20 todisplay images and a touch sensor 30 serving as a detection device todetect touch input.

The display panel 10 is a display device having the display portion 20and the touch sensor 30 integrated with each other. Specifically, in thedisplay panel 10, part of members, such as electrodes and substrates, ofthe display portion 20 double as electrodes and substrates of the touchsensor 30.

The display portion 20 includes liquid crystal display elements servingas display elements. The display portion 20 includes a plurality ofpixels including the display elements, and includes a display surfacefacing the pixels. The display portion 20 receives video signals Vdispto display an image composed of the pixels on the display surface. Thedisplay panel 10 may be an apparatus having the touch sensor 30 mountedon the display portion 20. The display portion 20 may be, for example,an organic electroluminescence (EL) display panel.

The controller 11 supplies control signals to the gate driver 12, thesource driver 13, the drive-electrode driver 14, and the detector 40based on video signals Vdisp supplied from the outside.

The gate driver 12 supplies scanning signals Vscan to one horizontalline to be a target of display drive in the display panel 10 based oncontrol signals supplied from the controller 11. Consequently, onehorizontal line to be a target of display drive is sequentially orsimultaneously selected.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies pixel signals Vpix torespective sub-pixels SPix (see FIG. 6) of the display portion 20.

Based on control signals supplied from the controller 11, thedrive-electrode driver 14 supplies drive signals Vcom to driveelectrodes COML (see FIG. 7) of the display panel 10. Part of thefunctions of the gate driver 12, the source driver 13, and thedrive-electrode driver 14 may be incorporated in the display panel 10.

The touch sensor 30 operates based on the basic principle of capacitivetouch detection, and performs touch detection based on themutual-capacitance method (also called the mutual method). Thus, adetected object such as a finger can be detected when touching or havingapproached a display region. The touch sensor 30 may perform touchdetection based on the self-capacitance method (also called the selfmethod).

The detector 40 determines whether a touch is made on the touch sensor30 based on control signals supplied from the controller 11 and adetection signal Vdet1 supplied from the touch sensor 30. If a touch isdetected, the detector 40 calculates coordinates at which the touchinput is performed, for example.

The detector 40 includes a touch detection signal amplifier 42, ananalog/digital (A/D) converter 43, a signal processor 44, a coordinateextractor 45, and a detection timing controller 46. The detection timingcontroller 46 performs control such that the A/D converter 43, thesignal processor 44, and the coordinate extractor 45 can operate insynchronization with one another based on control signals supplied fromthe controller 11.

In touch detection, the touch detection signal amplifier 42 amplifiesthe detection signal Vdet1 supplied from the display panel 10. The A/Dconverter 43 samples analog signals output from the touch detectionsignal amplifier 42 at a timing synchronized with the drive signal Vcom,and converts the sampled signals into digital signals.

The signal processor 44 is a logic circuit that detects whether a touchis made on the display panel 10 based on the output signals from the A/Dconverter 43. The signal processor 44 performs processing to extract asignal (absolute value |ΔV|) of the difference between the detectionsignals caused by a finger. The signal processor 44 compares theabsolute value |ΔV| with a certain threshold voltage, and determines, ifthis absolute value |ΔV| is less than the threshold voltage, that thedetected object is not touching the display region. In contrast, if theabsolute value |ΔV| is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage,the signal processor 44 determines that the detected object is touchingor has approached the display region. The detector 40 is thus enabled toperform touch detection.

In the present specification, a “touching state” refers to a state inwhich the detected object is touching the display surface or hasapproached the display surface to the extent that it is close enough toconsider it touching the display surface. The term “non-touching state”refers to a state in which a detected object is neither touching thedisplay surface nor has yet to approach the display surface to theextent that it is close enough to consider it touching the displaysurface.

The coordinate extractor 45 is a logic circuit that calculates, when thesignal processor 44 detects a touch, the touch panel coordinates of thetouch. The coordinate extractor 45 outputs the touch panel coordinatesas output signals Vout. The coordinate extractor 45 may output theoutput signals Vout to the controller 11. The controller 11 is capableof executing certain display operation or certain detection operationbased on the output signals Vout.

The touch detection signal amplifier 42, the analog/digital (A/D)converter 43, the signal processor 44, the coordinate extractor 45, andthe detection timing controller 46 of the detector 40 are installed inthe display device 1. However, this example is not limiting, and all orpart of the functions of the detector 40 may be installed in an externalcontrol board, an external processor, or the like. For example, thecoordinate extractor 45 may be installed in an external processorindependent from the display device 1. In such a case, the detector 40may output the signals processed by the signal processor 44 as theoutput signals Vout. Alternatively, the signal processor 44 and thecoordinate extractor 45 may be installed in an external processor. Insuch a case, the detector 40 may output the digital signals processed bythe A/D converter 43 as the output signals Vout.

The following describes the basic principle of mutual capacitance touchdetection performed by the display device 1 of this embodiment withreference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram forexplaining the basic principle of mutual capacitance touch detection.FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exemplary equivalentcircuit for mutual capacitance touch detection. FIG. 4 is a diagramillustrating examples of waveforms of a drive signal and a detectionsignal for mutual capacitance touch detection. While the followingdescribes a case in which a finger touches or approaches the apparatus,the detected object is not limited to a finger and may be a stylus, forexample.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a capacitance element C1 includes a pair ofelectrodes, that is, a drive electrode E1 and a detection electrode E2facing each other with a dielectric D interposed therebetween. Thecapacitance element C1 generates fringe lines of electric forceextending from ends of the drive electrode E1 to the upper surface ofthe detection electrode E2 besides lines of electric force (notillustrated) generated between the facing surfaces of the driveelectrode E1 and the detection electrode E2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, afirst end of the capacitance element C1 is coupled to analternating-current signal source (drive signal source) S, and a secondend thereof is coupled to a voltage detector DET. The voltage detectorDET is an integration circuit included in the touch detection signalamplifier 42 illustrated in FIG. 1, for example.

When the AC signal source S applies an AC rectangular wave Sg at acertain frequency (for example, roughly several kHz to several hundredkHz) to the drive electrode E1 (first end of the capacitance elementC1), an output waveform (detection signal Vdet1) illustrated in FIG. 4is generated via the voltage detector DET.

In the non-touching state, an electric current depending on thecapacitance value of the capacitance element C1 flows. The voltagedetector DET illustrated in FIG. 3 converts fluctuations in the electriccurrent I₀ depending on the AC rectangular wave Sg into fluctuations inthe voltage (a waveform V₀ indicated by the solid line (see FIG. 4)).

In the touching state, a capacitance generated by the finger is touchingthe detection electrode E2 or has approached the detection electrode E2to the extent that it is close enough to consider it touching thedetection electrode E2. The fringe lines of electric force between thedrive electrode E1 and the detection electrode E2 are blocked by aconductor (finger). As a result, the capacitance element C1 acts as acapacitance element having a capacitance value smaller than that in thenon-touching state. The voltage detector DET converts fluctuations in anelectric current I₀ depending on the AC rectangular wave Sg intofluctuations in the voltage (waveform V₁ in a dotted line (see FIG. 4)).

In this case, the waveform V₁ has amplitude smaller than that of thewaveform V₀. Consequently, the absolute value |ΔV| of the voltagedifference between the waveform V₀ and the waveform V₁ varies dependingon an effect of an external object, such as a finger, touching or havingapproached the detection electrode E2 from the outside. The voltagedetector DET resets charge and discharge of a capacitor based on thefrequency of the AC rectangular wave Sg by switching in the circuit.With the period Reset, the voltage detector DET can accurately detectthe absolute value |ΔV| of the voltage difference.

As described above, the detector 40 compares the absolute value |ΔV|with the certain threshold voltage, thereby determining whether theexternal proximity object is not touching or is touching or hasapproached the display region. The detector 40 thus can perform touchdetection based on the basic principle of mutual capacitance touchdetection.

A capacitive touch detection method herein is not limited to themutual-capacitance method described above, and may be theself-capacitance method. In such a case, either the drive electrode E1or the detection electrode E2 is used in touch detection. The followingexample describes touch detection using the detection electrode E2. TheAC signal source S supplies an AC rectangular wave Sg serving as a drivesignal, to the detection electrode E2. The current depending on acapacitance value of the detection electrode E2 flows through thevoltage detector DET. The voltage detector DET converts, intofluctuations in voltage, fluctuations in the current depending on the ACrectangular wave Sg.

In the non-touching state, the current depending on a capacitance valueof the detection electrode E2 flows. In contrast, in the touching state,a capacitance value generated between a finger and the detectionelectrode E2 is added to the capacitance value of the detectionelectrode E2. The detection electrode E2 thus acts as a capacitanceelement having a larger capacitance value in the touching state than inthe non-touching state. The voltage detector DET outputs a detectionsignal depending on the change in capacitance. Consequently, thedetector 40 can perform touch detection based on the absolute value|ΔV|.

Next, an exemplary configuration of the display device 1 of thisembodiment is described. FIG. 5 is a sectional view representing aschematic sectional structure of the display device according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the V-V line inFIG. 11. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display device 1 includes a pixelsubstrate 2, a counter substrate 3, and a liquid crystal layer 6 servingas a display function layer. The counter substrate 3 is disposed facingthe pixel substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thepixel substrate 2. The liquid crystal layer 6 is provided between thepixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes a first substrate 21, pixel electrodes22, drive electrodes COML, and a polarizing plate 65. The firstsubstrate 21 is provided with circuits such as a gate scanner includedin the gate driver 12, switching elements, such as thin film transistors(TFTs), and various kinds of wiring (not illustrated in FIG. 5), such asgate lines GCL and signal lines SGL.

The drive electrodes COML are provided above the first substrate 21. Thepixel electrodes 22 are provided above the drive electrodes COML with aninsulating layer 24 interposed therebetween. While being provided in alayer different from a layer in which the drive electrodes COML areprovided, the pixel electrodes 22 are disposed overlapping the driveelectrodes COML in planar view. A plurality of pixel electrodes 22 aredisposed in a matrix (row-column configuration) in planar view. Thepolarizing plate 65 is provided below the first substrate 21 with anadhesive layer 66 interposed therebetween. A light-transmissiveconductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) is used for the pixelelectrodes 22 and the drive electrodes COML. While this embodimentillustrates a case in which the pixel electrodes 22 are provided abovethe drive electrodes COML, the drive electrodes COML may be providedabove the pixel electrodes 22.

A display integrated circuit (IC) 19 and a flexible substrate 72 areprovided on the first substrate 21. The display IC 19 functions as thecontroller 11 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the present application, “above” refers to a direction from the firstsubstrate 21 toward a second substrate 31 of the direction perpendicularto the surface of the first substrate 21, and “below” refers to adirection from the second substrate 31 toward the first substrate 21.The “planar view” refers to a view seen from a direction perpendicularto a surface of the first substrate 21.

The counter substrate 3 includes: a second substrate 31; a firstshielding layer 51 formed on one surface of the second substrate 31; adetection electrode TDL; a protective layer 38; a conductive adhesivelayer 39; and a polarizing plate 35. A plurality of detection electrodesTDL are arranged on the second substrate 31. The detection electrodesTDL function as detection electrodes for the touch sensor 30. A colorfilter 32 (see FIG. 12) is provided on the other surface of the secondsubstrate 31, that is, a surface thereof facing the first substrate 21.

A flexible substrate 71 is coupled to the second substrate 31 via aterminal section 36. A detection IC 18 is mounted on the flexiblesubstrate 71. In this embodiment, each of the first substrate 21 and thesecond substrate 31 is, for example, a glass substrate or a resinsubstrate. The detection electrodes TDL are electrically coupled to thedetection IC 18 via terminal sections 36. The first shielding layer 51is provided in the same layer as the detection electrodes TDL. Thedetailed configurations of the first shielding layer 51 and thedetection electrodes TDL are to be described later.

Each of the detection electrodes TDL includes first conductive thinwires 33U and second conductive thin wires 33V (see FIG. 8). Theprotective layer 38 for protecting the detection electrodes TDLincluding the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V is provided on the detection electrodes TDL. Theprotective layer 38 is electrically insulative and can be formed of alight-transmissive resin such as an acrylic resin. The protective layer38 covers the detection electrodes TDL and is not provided on at least apart of the first shielding layer 51.

The polarizing plate 35 is provided above the protective layer 38. Theconductive adhesive layer 39 is provided between the polarizing plate 35and the protective layer 38 in a direction perpendicular to a surface ofthe second substrate 31. The conductive adhesive layer 39 is in contactwith the polarizing plate 35 and in contact with the first shieldinglayer 51 exposed from the protective layer 38. In planar view, a regionwithin which the conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided is larger thana detection electrode region, which herein refers to a region withinwhich the detection electrodes TDL are provided.

The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided not only for joining thepolarizing plate 35 and the protective layer 38 to each other but alsoas a preventative measure against electro-static discharge (ESD). Theconductive adhesive layer 39 is a light-transmissive conductive layerand contains a light-transmissive resin adhesive agent, and conductiveparticles. The conductive particles are dispersed within the resinadhesive agent. The sheet resistance of the conductive adhesive layer 39can be increased by adjustment of the sizes and the amount of theconductive particles contained in the resin adhesive agent and thecharacteristics, such as conductivity, of the conductive particles. Inthis embodiment, the sheet resistance of the conductive adhesive layer39 is higher than the sheet resistance of the first shielding layer 51.As described above, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is in directcontact with the first shielding layer 51, so that static electricityflows from the conductive adhesive layer 39 to the first shielding layer51. Consequently, static electricity can be more effectively discharged.

The first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31 are disposed facingeach other with a certain space interposed therebetween. A space betweenthe first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31 is closed off by asealing section 61. The liquid crystal layer 6 is provided in a spacesurrounded by the first substrate 21, the second substrate 31, and thesealing section 61. The liquid crystal layer 6 modulates, in accordancewith conditions of electric fields therein, light passing therethrough.For the liquid crystal layer 6, liquid crystal of the transverseelectric field mode such as the in-plane switching (IPS) mode is used,examples of which include, but are not limited to, the fringe fieldswitching (FFS) mode. An orientation film is provided between the liquidcrystal layer 6 and the pixel substrate 2 and between the liquid crystallayer 6 and the counter substrate 3 in the illustration of FIG. 5. Inthis embodiment, transverse electric fields generated between the pixelelectrodes 22 and the drive electrodes COML drive the liquid crystallayer 6.

An illuminator (backlight) not illustrated is provided below the firstsubstrate 21. The illuminator includes a light source such as a lightemitting diode (LED), and outputs light from the light source to thefirst substrate 21. The light from the illuminator passes through thepixel substrate 2 and is modulated depending on the conditions of liquidcrystals at the corresponding position. The state of light istransmission to the display surface varies depending on the positions.Consequently, an image is displayed on the display surface.

The following describes a display operation performed by the displaydevice 1. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram representing a pixel array in thedisplay portion. The first substrate 21 (see FIG. 5) is provided withswitching elements Tr of the respective sub-pixels SPix, the signallines SGL, the gate lines GCL, and other components, which areillustrated in FIG. 6. The signal lines SGL are wires through whichpixel signals Vpix are supplied to the respective pixel electrodes 22.The gate lines GCL are wires through which drive signals for driving therespective switching elements Tr are supplied. The signal lines SGL andthe gate lines GCL extend on a plane parallel to the surface of thefirst substrate 21.

The display portion 20 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a plurality ofsub-pixels SPix arrayed in a matrix (row-column configuration). Thesub-pixels SPix each include the switching element Tr and a liquidcrystal element 6 a. The switching element Tr is a thin-film transistorand is an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) TFT in this example.The insulating layer 24 is provided between the pixel electrodes 22 andthe drive electrodes COML to form holding capacitance 6 b illustrated inFIG. 6.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 sequentially selects the gatelines GCL. The gate driver 12 applies the scanning signals Vscan to thegates of the switching elements Tr of the respective sub-pixels SPixthrough the selected gate line GCL. Consequently, one row (onehorizontal line) out of the sub-pixels SPix is sequentially selected asa target of display drive. The source driver 13 supplies the pixelsignals Vpix to the selected sub-pixels SPix forming the selected onehorizontal line via the signal lines SGL. The sub-pixels SPix performdisplay in units of one horizontal line based on the supplied pixelsignals Vpix.

To perform the display operation, the drive-electrode driver 14illustrated in FIG. 1 applies the display drive signals Vcomdc to thedrive electrodes COML. The display drive signals Vcomdc are DC voltagesignals serving as a common potential for the sub-pixels SPix.Consequently, the drive electrodes COML function as common electrodesfor the pixel electrodes 22 in the display operation. During the displayoperation, the drive-electrode driver 14 applies the drive signalsVcomdc to all the drive electrodes COML in a display region 10 a.

The color filter 32 (see FIG. 12) may include, for example, periodicallyarranged color areas of the color filter 32 in three colors of red (R),green (G), and blue (B). Color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B in the threecolors of R, G, and B, respectively, serve as a set and correspond tothe respective sub-pixels SPix illustrated in FIG. 6 described above.The pixel Pix is composed of a set of sub-pixels SPix corresponding tothe respective color areas 32R, 32G, and 32B in the three colors. Thecolor filter 32 may include color areas in four or more colors.

The following describes the configuration of the drive electrode COMLand the detection electrode TDL and a touch detecting operation. FIG. 7is a plan view of the first substrate according to the first embodiment.FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second substrate according to the firstembodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating, in an enlarged manner,the region Ra illustrated in FIG. 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first substrate 21 is sectioned intoregions corresponding to: the display region 10 a of the display portion20 (see FIG. 1); and a peripheral region 10 b provided to the outside ofthe display region 10 a. The display IC 19 is mounted on the firstsubstrate 21 in the peripheral region 10 b. The display IC 19 is acomponent in which circuits of functions needed for the displayoperation are embedded, such as some of the functions of the controller11, the gate driver 12, and the source driver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1.The peripheral region 10 b may surround the display region 10 a. In sucha case, the peripheral region 10 b can be referred to as a frame areainstead.

The gate driver 12, the source driver 13, and the drive-electrode driver14 are formed on the first substrate 21, which is a glass substrate. Thedisplay IC 19 and the drive-electrode driver 14 are provided in theperipheral region 10 b. The display IC 19 may have the drive-electrodedriver 14 embedded therein. In such a case, the peripheral region 10 bcan be narrowed. The flexible substrate 72 is coupled to the display IC19, so that video signals Vdisp and a power-supply voltage from theoutside are supplied to the display IC 19 via the flexible substrate 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of drive electrodes COML areprovided on the first substrate 21 in the display region 10 a. The driveelectrodes COML each extend in the second direction Dy and a pluralityof drive electrodes COML are arranged in the first direction Dx. Inother words, each of the drive electrodes COML extends in a directionalong the long edges of the display region 10 a, and these driveelectrodes COML are arranged side by side in a direction along the shortedges of the display region 10 a with spaces between adjacent ones ofthe drive electrodes COML. Each of these drive electrodes COML iscoupled to the drive-electrode driver 14.

In this embodiment, the drive electrodes COML extend in the directionintersecting the gate lines GCL. In other words, the drive electrodesCOML extend in a direction parallel to the signal lines SGL.Consequently, wires coupled to the drive electrodes COML and thedrive-electrode driver 14 can be positioned in a part different fromparts in which the gate driver 12 is provided. Specifically, forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the gate drivers 12 are provided inparts of the peripheral region 10 b that extend along the respectivelong edges thereof, and the drive-electrode driver 14 and the sourcedriver 13 are provided in a part of the peripheral region 10 b, the partextending along one of the short edges thereof and having the flexiblesubstrate 72 coupled thereto. The display device 1 of this embodimentcan make the peripheral region 10 b along the drive electrodes COMLnarrower.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of detection electrodes TDL areprovided on the second substrate 31 in the display region 10 a. Thedetection electrodes TDL each extend in the first direction Dx, and aplurality of detection electrodes TDL are arranged in the seconddirection Dy with spaces SP between adjacent ones of the detectionelectrodes TDL. That is, each of the drive electrodes COML and each ofthe detection electrodes TDL are disposed in a manner intersecting eachother in planar view, and a capacitance is generated at the positionwhere the drive electrode COML and the detection electrode TDL overlapeach other.

During touch detection, the drive-electrode driver 14 sequentially scansthe drive electrodes COML in a time-division manner to sequentiallyapply drive signals Vcom to the drive electrodes COML. Each of thedetection electrodes TDL then outputs, to the touch detector 40, thesignal corresponding to a change in capacitance between thecorresponding drive electrode COML and the detection electrode TDL.Touch detection on the display region 10 a is thus performed. That is,the drive electrode COML corresponds to the drive electrode E1 in theabove-described basic principle of mutual capacitance touch detection,and the detection electrode TDL corresponds to the detection electrodeE2. The detection electrodes TDL and the drive electrodes COML formcapacitive touch sensors in a matrix (row-column configuration) witheach of the detection electrodes TDL and each of the drive electrodesCOML intersecting each other. Thus, scanning the entirety of a touchdetection surface of the touch sensor 30 enables detection of a detectedobject that is touching or has approached the touch detection surface.

In one exemplary manner of operation of the display device 1, thedisplay device 1 performs the touch detecting operation (touch detectionperiods) and the display operation (display periods) in a time-divisionmanner The display device 1 may perform the touch detecting operationand the display operation in any division manner.

The drive-electrode driver 14 may supply the drive signals Vcom fortouch detection to the detection electrodes TDL for touch detection whenthe detection operation is performed only with the drive electrodes TDLwithout the use of the drive electrodes COML during each touch detectionperiod, that is, for example, when touch detection is performed based onthe touch detection principle according to the self-capacitance method.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the detection electrodes TDL of thisembodiment includes a plurality of first conductive thin wires 33U and aplurality of second conductive thin wires 33V. Each of the firstconductive thin wires 33U and each of the second conductive thin wires33V slope in opposite directions with respect to a direction parallel toone edge of the display region 10 a. The first conductive thin wire 33Uand the first direction Dx form a first angle, and the second conductivethin wire 33V and the first direction Dx form a second angle.

Each of the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V is a metal wire having a narrow width. In the displayregion 10 a, the first conductive thin wires 33U are disposed side byside with spaces between adjacent ones thereof in a directionintersecting a direction in which the first conductive thin wires 33Uextend, that is, in the second direction Dy. The second conductive thinwires 33V are also disposed side by side with spaces between adjacentones thereof in the second direction Dy.

The detection electrode TDL includes at least one such first conductivethin wire 33U and at least one such second conductive thin wire 33Vintersecting the first conductive thin wire 33U. The first conductivethin wire 33U and the second conductive thin wire 33V are electricallycoupled to each other at a connection part 33X. When the firstconductive thin wires 33U intersect the second conductive thin wires33V, each opening of a mesh thus formed by the detection electrode TDLforms a parallelogram.

The respective ends of the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V in a direction in which these thinwires extend are coupled to coupling wires 34 a and 34 b. The firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V,which serve as a main detector of the detection electrode TDL, arecoupled to the coupling wires 34 a and 34 b through thin wires 33 a.Each of these first conductive thin wires 33U and each of these secondconductive thin wires 33V are electrically coupled to each other, sothat these first conductive thin wires 33U and second conductive thinwires 33V together function as one detection electrode TDL.

The first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V are formed from metal layers made of one or more of aluminum (Al),copper (Cu), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti),and tungsten (W). Otherwise, the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V are formed of an alloy containing atleast one metal material of the above metal materials. The firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V mayeach be a stack composed of a plurality of conductive layers that aremade of the above metal materials or alloys containing at least one ofthese materials. A conductive layer formed of a light-transmissiveconductive oxide such as ITO may be stacked on the first conductive thinwires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V. Any one of ablackened film, a black organic film, and a black conductive organicfilm that can each be obtained by combining the at least one metalmaterial described above and a conductive layer may be stacked thereon.

The metal materials described above have resistance lower than alight-transmissive conductive oxide such as ITO. The above-describedmetal materials have higher light blocking tendency than thelight-transmissive conductive oxide, thereby being likely to decreasethe transmission or to make the pattern of the detection electrode TDLvisible. In this embodiment, one detection electrode TDL includes aplurality of first conductive thin wires 33U having narrow widths and aplurality of second conductive thin wires 33V having narrow widths, andadjacent ones of the first conductive thin wires 33U and of the secondconductive thin wires 33V are disposed with spaces therebetween that areeach larger than the width of each of these wires. This allows thedetection electrodes TDL to have resistance lower than otherwise and tobe invisible. As a result, the display device 1 can have a thinnerprofile, a larger screen, or a higher definition.

Depending on a combination of the at least one metal material describedabove and the conductive adhesive layer 39 (see FIG. 5), batteryreaction or the like occurs, possibly resulting in corrosion of themetal material in the detection electrodes TDL. In this embodiment,however, the protective layer 38 is provided on the detection electrodesTDL, so that the conductive adhesive layer 39 is isolated from thedetection electrodes TDL. The metal material in the detection electrodesTDL is thus prevented from corroding.

The first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V each preferably have a width within the range of 1 μm to 10 μm, andmore preferably have a width within the range of 1 μm to 5 μm. When thefirst conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33Veach have a width of 10 μm or less, the aperture ratio is less likely tobe decreased, because a total area overlapping the aperturescorresponding to regions enclosed by the black matrix in the displayregion 10 a becomes small. When the respective widths of the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V are 1μm or more, breakage of the wires is less likely because the shapesthereof is stable.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the detection electrodes TDL includesthese first conductive thin wires 33U and second conductive thin wires33V disposed at certain pitches. The detection electrode TDL as a wholeextends in a direction intersecting a direction (the second directionDy) in which the color regions 32R, the color regions 32G, and the colorregions 32B (see FIG. 6) of the color filter 32 each extend. That is,the detection electrode TDL extends in the first direction Dxintersecting the signal lines SGL illustrated in FIG. 6. With each ofthe first conductive thin wires 33U and each the second conductive thinwires 33V slope in opposite directions and intersect each other, thefirst conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33Vform a mesh-like pattern. Consequently, the first conductive thin wires33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V are prevented from blockinglight that passes through the color regions in any particular color ofthe color filter 32. Each of the first conductive thin wires 33U andeach of the second conductive thin wires 33V slope in oppositedirections at an angle θ with respect to the direction in which thecolor regions 32R, the color regions 32G, and the color regions 32B eachextend. For example, the angle θ is within the range of 5 to 75 degrees,preferably within the range of 25 to 40 degrees, and more preferablywithin the range of 50 to 65 degrees.

Directions in which each of the first conductive thin wires 33U and eachof the second conductive thin wires 33V extend thus form angles withrespect to the direction in which the color regions 32R, the colorregions 32G, and the color regions 32B of the color filter 32 eachextend. As a result, the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V sequentially block light through theindividual color regions 32R, the individual color regions 32G, and theindividual color regions 32B of the color filter 32, so that thetransmission can be prevented from being lower in any particular one ofthe color regions of the color filter 32. The first conductive thinwires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V may be arranged in anirregular fashion to a preferable extent. That is, spaces betweenadjacent ones of the first conductive thin wires 33U may be varied, andspaces between adjacent ones of the second conductive thin wires 33V maybe varied.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part in FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG.9, the detection electrode TDL includes sensor sections TDLs and dummysections TDLd. The sensor sections TDLs and the dummy sections TDLd eachextend in the first direction Dx, and are alternately disposed in thesecond direction Dy. The sensor sections TDLs are coupled to thecoupling wires 34 a and 34 b illustrated in FIG. 8, and mainly functionas detection electrodes. The dummy sections TDLd are provided in amanner electrically isolated from the sensor sections TDLs and thecoupling wires 34 a and 34 b. The dummy sections TDLd are dummyelectrodes, which do not function as detection electrodes.

The sensor sections TDLs and the dummy sections TDLd each include thefirst conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V, and are formed in respective mesh-like structures similar to eachother. The display region 10 a provides favorable visibility because thelight transmittance thereof is thus prevented from being varied. Thesensor sections TDLs are electrically isolated from the dummy sectionsTDLd with slits SL provided in the first conductive thin wires 33U andthe second conductive thin wire 33V. Slits SL are provided in the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V thatform each mesh opening of the dummy sections TDLd. During touchdetection, this configuration brings the dummy sections TDLd into afloating state in which voltage signals are not supplied.

The rate of covering with the detection electrodes TDL (the occupancythereof per unit area) is preferably 10% or less. When the rate ofcovering with the detection electrodes TDL is too high, the transmissionis so low that display appears dark or that the backlight consumes morepower. A distance between adjacent electrodes is preferably 300 μm orless. When the distance between each adjacent ones of the electrodes islarge, it is necessary to provide a conductive layer 59 (see FIG. 18)and to lower the resistance of the conductive layer 59 so as to lowerthe resistance between the electrodes. Lowering the resistance of theconductive layer 59 weakens touch signals.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, first wires 37 a are coupled to the respectivecoupling wires 34 a. Second wires 37 b are coupled to the respectivecoupling wires 34 b. That is, in this embodiment, one of the first wires37 a is coupled to the one end of each of the detection electrodes TDL,and one of the second wires 37 b is coupled to the other end thereof.The first wires 37 a are provided along one of the long edges of theperipheral region 10 b. The second wires 37 b are provided along theother long edge of the peripheral region 10 b.

One of the first wires 37 a and one of the second wires 37 b that arecoupled to the same detection electrode TDL are coupled to the sameterminal section 36. That is, the detection electrode TDL, the firstwire 37 a, the second wire 37 b, and the terminal section 36 are coupledto one another in a loop. The detection electrode TDL is coupled to theflexible substrate 71 via the first wire 37 a, the second wire 37 b, andthe terminal section 36.

The first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b are formed of a materialthat is the same as the at least one metal material, the alloy, or thelike that the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductivethin wires 33V are formed of. Any material having favorable conductivitycan be used for the first wires 37 a and the second wires 37 b, and amaterial different from that for the first conductive thin wires 33U andthe second conductive thin wires 33V may be used therefor.

One of the first wires 37 a and one of the second wires 37 b are thuscoupled to the same detection electrode TDL, so that, even when one ofthe first wire 37 a and the second wire 37 b is cut off, the othermaintains the coupling between the detection electrode TDL and theflexible substrate 71. Therefore, the display device 1 of thisembodiment can have the detection electrode TDL and the flexiblesubstrate 71 more reliably coupled to each other.

A configuration such that one of the first wires 37 a or one of thesecond wire 37 b only is coupled to each one of the detection electrodesTDL may be employed. Each of the detection electrodes TDL is not limitedto being composed of metal thin wires formed in a mesh-like pattern, andmay be formed of, for example, a plurality of metal thin wires formed inzigzag lines, in wavy lines, or in straight lines. While FIG. 9illustrates the sensor sections TDLs and the dummy sections TDLdincluded in one of the detection electrodes TDL, a dummy electrode maybe disposed in a space SP between each adjacent ones of the detectionelectrodes TDL.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first shielding layer 51, a secondshielding layer 52, a third shielding layer 53, and a fourth shieldinglayer 54 are provided in the peripheral region 10 b of the secondsubstrate 31. The first shielding layer 51, the second shielding layer52, the third shielding layer 53, and the fourth shielding layer 54 eachinclude first conductive thin wires 33U and second conductive thin wires33V and are formed in respective mesh-like structures similar to thedetection electrodes TDL. Each of the first shielding layer 51, thesecond shielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53, and the fourthshielding layer 54 is not limited to this example, and may be formed of,for example, a plurality of metal thin wires formed in zigzag lines, inwavy lines, or in straight lines, or may be a seamless conductive film.Each of the first shielding layer 51, the second shielding layer 52, thethird shielding layer 53, and the fourth shielding layer 54 is formedfrom metal layers made of one or more of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), and tungsten(W); and a layer of an alloy containing at least one metal material ofthe above metal materials.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36 b towhich the flexible substrate 71 is coupled are provided in a part of theperipheral region 10 b, the part extending along one of the two edgesthereof that face each other in the second direction Dy. The firstshielding layer 51 is provided in a part of the peripheral region 10 b,the part extending along the other edge of the two edges thereof thatface each other in the second direction Dy. That is, the first shieldinglayer 51 is provided in a part of the peripheral region 10 b, the partextending along an edge thereof opposite across the display region 10 ato another edge thereof along which the part having the terminalsections 36, 36 a, and 36 b extends. The second shielding layer 52, thethird shielding layer 53, and the fourth shielding layer 54 are providedin a part of the peripheral region 10 b, the part extending along theone edge thereof, that is, in a part of the peripheral region 10 b, thepart being opposite across the display region 10 a to a part thereofhaving the first shielding layer 51.

The first shielding layer 51 as a whole extends in the first directionDx, and is provided along the detection electrodes TDL. A wire 50 a iscoupled to one end of the first shielding layer 51, and a wire 50 b iscoupled to the other end thereof. The wire 50 a is provided along one ofthe long edges of the peripheral region 10 b. The wire 50 b is providedalong the other long edge of the peripheral region 10 b. The respectivewires 50 a and 50 b are provided outside the first wires 37 a and thesecond wires 37 b that are coupled to the detection electrodes TDL. Thewires 50 a and 50 b are coupled to the same terminal section 36 b. As aresult of this configuration, the first shielding layer 51, the wires 50a and 50 b, and the terminal section 36 b are coupled to one another ina loop. The first shielding layer 51 is coupled to the flexiblesubstrate 71 via the wires 50 a and 50 b, and the terminal section 36 b.

The second shielding layer 52 and the third shielding layer 53 areprovided in a part of the peripheral region 10 b, the part having theflexible substrate 71 coupled thereto. The second shielding layer 52 andthe third shielding layer 53 face each other in the first direction Dx.The flexible substrate 71 is provided between the second shielding layer52 and the third shielding layer 53. The second shielding layer 52 andthe third shielding layer 53 are provided outside the wires 50 a and 50b.

The second shielding layer 52 is electrically coupled to the wire 50 b,and is coupled to the flexible substrate 71 via the wire 50 b and theterminal section 36 b. The third shielding layer 53 is electricallycoupled to the wire 50 a, and is coupled to the flexible substrate 71via the wire 50 a and the terminal section 36 b. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, the first shielding layer 51, the secondshielding layer 52, and the third shielding layer 53 are electricallycoupled to the same one terminal section 36 b.

The fourth shielding layer 54 is provided between the flexible substrate71 and the detection electrodes TDL in a part of the peripheral region10 b, the part having the flexible substrate 71 coupled thereto. Thefourth shielding layer 54 as a whole extends in the first direction DXand is provided along the detection electrodes TDL. The fourth shieldinglayer 54 is provided in a region surrounded by the detection electrodesTDL, the first wires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b. The fourthshielding layer 54 is coupled to a terminal section 36 a via a wire 50g. The fourth shielding layer 54 is thereby coupled to the flexiblesubstrate 71.

Voltage signals having the same potential as a potential supplied to thedetection electrodes TDL are supplied to the first shielding layer 51,the second shielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53, and thefourth shielding layer 54. This reduces parasitic capacitances in thedetection electrodes TDL and can prevent the detection sensitivity frombeing reduced. Alternatively, the first shielding layer 51, the secondshielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53, and the fourthshielding layer 54 may be grounded via the flexible substrate 71.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuitaccording to the first embodiment. A drive circuit 14A illustrated inFIG. 10 is a scanner circuit included in the drive-electrode driver 14illustrated in FIG. 7, and sequentially scans the drive electrodes COML.The drive circuit 14A is provided, on the first substrate 21 in theperipheral region 10 b, facing the end portions of the respective driveelectrodes COML.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the drive electrodes COML (1), and COML (2),. . . , COML (m), and COML (m+1) are arranged side by side. The drivecircuit 14A includes switches SW21 and SW22, wires LA and LB, and shiftregisters 75(1), 75(2), . . . , 75(m), and 75(m+1). The respective shiftregisters 75(1), 75(2), . . . , 75(m), and 75(m+1) are providedcorresponding to the drive electrodes COML (1), and COML (2), . . . ,COML (m), and COML (m+1).

The following description uses the term “drive electrode COML” whenthere is no need to distinguish between the drive electrodes COML (1),and COML (2), . . . , COML (m), and COML (m+1). Likewise, the followingdescription uses the term “shift register 75” when there is no need todistinguish between the shift registers 75(1), 75(2), . . . , 75(m), and75(m+1).

Respective switches SW21 and respective switches SW22 are coupled to thedrive electrodes COML (1), COML (2), . . . , COML (m), and COML (m+1).One end of each of the switches SW21 is coupled to the correspondingdrive electrode COML through a corresponding wire L11. The other end ofthe switch SW21 is coupled to the wire LA. One end of each of theswitches SW22 is coupled to the corresponding drive electrode COMLthrough a corresponding wire L11. The other end of the switch SW22 iscoupled to the wire LB. Operation of the switches SW21 and the switchesSW22 is controlled by scanning signals supplied from the shift registers75.

Each of the switches SW21 and the corresponding switch SW22 operate inreverse manners. For example, when the same scanning signal is providedto the switch SW21 and the switch SW22, the switch SW22 is turned off ifthe switch SW21 is turned on, and the switch SW22 is turned on if theswitch SW21 is turned off.

The wire LA and the wire LB are disposed facing the respective ends ofthe drive electrode COML and extend in a direction intersecting each ofthe drive electrodes COML. Display drive signals Vcomdc are supplied tothe drive electrodes COML via the wire LA. Detection drive signals Vcomare supplied to the drive electrodes COML via the wire LB.

In touch detection, the shift registers 75(1), 75(2), . . . , 75(m), and75(m+1) start scanning in response to scanning-start signals from thecontroller 11. The shift registers 75(1), 75(2), . . . , 75(m), and75(m+1) sequentially supply the scanning signals in synchronization withclock signals from the controller 11.

Each of the switches SW21 is turned off and the corresponding switchSW22 is turned on, in response to a scanning signal supplied from thecorresponding shift register 75. Consequently, a drive signal Vcom issupplied via the wire LB and the switch SW22 to the drive electrode COMLthat is to be driven. In contrast, each of the switches SW21 is turnedon and the corresponding switch SW22 is turned off, if there is noscanning signal supplied. Consequently, a drive signal Vcomdc, which isa DC voltage signal, is supplied via the wire LA and the switch SW21 toan unselected one of the drive electrodes COML that is not selected tobe driven.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the second shielding layer 52 and thethird shielding layer 53 is disposed overlapping a part of the drivecircuit 14A in planar view. Each of the second shielding layer 52 andthe third shielding layer 53 is disposed overlapping at least the wiresLA and LB. Consequently, the second shielding layer 52 and the thirdshielding layer 53 can electrically shield the detection electrodes TDL,the first wires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b (see FIG. 8) from thewires LA and LB, the switches SW21 and SW22, and the like. Consequently,noise generated from the drive circuit 14A can be prevented fromdeteriorating the detection performance

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the protective layer according tothe first embodiment. FIG. 11 illustrates the protective layer 38 withhatching and the outer perimeter thereof with a bold line. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the protective layer 38 is provided on almostthe entire surface of the second substrate 31. The protective layer 38is provided overlapping at least: the entireties of the detectionelectrodes TDL; the first wires 37 a; and the second wires 37 b. Thefirst conductive thin wire 33U and second conductive thin wires 33 v ofthe detection electrodes TDL are thus prevented from corroding.

If the protective layer 38 is not provided, an acid component and anionic substance contained in the conductive adhesive layer 39 (see FIG.5) are to be eluted, possibly causing quality change or corrosion of thefirst conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V. In this embodiment, the protective layer 38 is provided between thedetection electrodes TDL and the conductive adhesive layer 39.Consequently, no ionic substance is to be eluted to the first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V, and qualitychange and corrosion of the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V of the detection electrodes TDL can beprevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the protective layer 38 is providedoverlapping the second shielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53,and the fourth shielding layer 54. The protective layer 38 has arecessed portion 38 a and an opening 38 b. The recessed portion 38 a isa portion along a part of one edge of the protective layer 38, theportion being recessed toward the display region 10 a from theperipheral region 10 b in planar view. The recessed portion 38 a isformed in a region overlapping the first shielding layer 51.

In this embodiment, the first shielding layer 51 has some partoverlapping the protective layer 38 and the other part not overlappingthe protective layer 38. In other words, a part of the first shieldinglayer 51 is exposed form the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive layer 39 (see FIG. 5) is provided on the entire surface of theprotective layer 38. The conductive adhesive layer 39 is in directcontact with the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V of the first shielding layer 51 through therecessed portion 38 a of the protective layer 38. In other words, theconductive adhesive layer 39 is in contact with a part of the firstshielding layer 51 in one side of the peripheral region 10 b oppositeacross the display region 10 a to the side thereof having the flexiblesubstrate 71, the part not overlapping the protective layer 38.

This is not a limiting example, and the protective layer 38 may beprovided in a position not overlapping the first shielding layer 51.That is, the entire region of the first shielding layer 51 may beexposed from the protective layer 38. In such a case, the contact areabetween the first shielding layer 51 and the conductive adhesive layer39 is larger.

The opening 38 b is formed in a position overlapping the terminalsections 36, 36 a, and 36 b. The terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36 bare exposed from the protective layer 38 to be coupled to the flexiblesubstrate 71 through the opening 38 b.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining flows ofstatic electricity. FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating, in anenlarged manner, the first shielding layer 51 and one of the detectionelectrodes TDL that faces the first shielding layer 51.

As described above, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided as apreventative measure against ESD that may occur during manufacture anduse of the display device 1. During the manufacture, the polarizingplate 35 is likely to be charged, for example, when the polarizing plate35 is bonded or a cover substrate (not illustrated) is bonded on thepolarizing plate 35, and when a cover film is removed from thepolarizing plate 35 or the cover substrate. The polarizing plate 35 islikely to be charged also when a finger of a person touches the touchdetection surface (a surface of the cover substrate) during inspection.During the use, the polarizing plate 35 is likely to be charged when acharged finger of a user touches the touch detection surface.

If the conductive adhesive layer 39 is not provided, the polarizingplate 35 is likely to be charged when electromagnetic noise such asstatic electricity is applied from the outside. Because the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V (seeFIG. 8) have low resistance and narrow widths, it is difficult to removeelectric charges carried by the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V. Because each of the dummy sectionsTDLd (see FIG. 9) is in a floating state, that is, a state decoupledfrom the sensor sections TDL and various wires, it is difficult toremove an electric charge carried by the dummy section TDLd.Consequently, orientations in the liquid crystal layer 6 are changed bystatic electricity carried by the polarizing plate 35 and/or the dummysections TDLd, and such change possibly degrades the display quality ofthe display portion 20. The detection signals Vdet1 are changed by suchstatic electricity, and such change possibly degrades the touchdetection accuracy of the touch sensor 30.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the first shielding layer51 and the detection electrodes TDL are provided on the second substrate31. The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided in almost the entireregion within which the second substrate 31 and the polarizing plate 35overlap each other. The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided betweenthe polarizing plate 35 and the first shielding layer 51 in a directionperpendicular to a surface of the second substrate 31, and is in directcontact with the polarizing plate 35 and the first shielding layer 51.The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided between the polarizingplate 35 and the protective layer 38 in a direction perpendicular to asurface of the second substrate 31, and not in contact with thedetection electrodes TDL.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, when static electricity SE is applied to thesurface of polarizing plate 35 from the outside, the static electricitySE flows to the conductive adhesive layer 39 through the polarizingplate 35. The static electricity SE that has flowed to the conductiveadhesive layer 39 then flows to the first shielding layer 51. Theconductive adhesive layer 39 is thus provided in direct contact with thepolarizing plate 35 and the first shielding layer 51. Consequently, thepolarizing plate 35 can be prevented from being charged.

The static electricity SE that has flowed to the first shielding layer51 then flows to a power supply and the ground potential (GND) through aresistive element included in the touch detector 40 and through anESD-protection circuit (not illustrated), that is, is discharged. Thefirst shielding layer 51 may be grounded to, for example, a housing ofthe display device 1.

The protective layer 38 is provided between the detection electrodes TDLand the conductive adhesive layer 39. The protective layer 38 has ahigher sheet resistance than the first shielding layer 51, and therebycan prevent the static electricity SE from flowing to the detectionelectrodes TDL. Consequently, the dummy sections TDLd (see FIG. 9)included in the detection electrodes TDL are prevented from beingcharged, and static electricity SEa that otherwise flows from thedetection electrodes TDL to the drive electrodes COML through the liquidcrystal layer 6 can be prevented from thus flowing.

This configuration enables the display device 1 of this embodiment toprevent the polarizing plate 35 and the detection electrodes TDL frombeing charged. This configuration can thus prevent the staticelectricity SE from degrading the display quality and reducing the touchdetection accuracy. Therefore, the display device 1 of this embodimentcan be made more resistant to electromagnetic noise such as staticelectricity.

The conductive adhesive layer 39 has a sheet resistance, for example,within the range of 10⁸ to 10¹⁴ ohms per square. More preferably, theconductive adhesive layer 39 has a sheet resistance, for example, withinthe range of 10⁹ to 10¹³ ohms per square. The sheet resistance of theconductive adhesive layer 39 is lower than the resistance of thepolarizing plate 35. The sheet resistance of the conductive adhesivelayer 39 is higher than the sheet resistances of the first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V. That is, theconductive adhesive layer 39 has a higher sheet resistance than thesheet resistances of the first shielding layer 51 and the detectionelectrodes TDL.

If the conductive adhesive layer 39 has a sheet resistance lower than10⁸ ohms per square, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is likely tofunction as a shield and deteriorate the touch detection performance Ifthe conductive adhesive layer 39 has a sheet resistance higher than 10¹⁴ohms per square, the static electricity SE is likely to be impeded fromfavorably flowing to the first shielding layer 51.

Because the sheet resistance of the conductive adhesive layer 39 islower than the resistance of the polarizing plate 35, the staticelectricity SE favorably flows through the conductive adhesive layer 39.The sheet resistance of the conductive adhesive layer 39 is higher thaneach of the sheet resistances of the first conductive thin wires 33U andthe second conductive thin wires 33V, so that the conductive adhesivelayer 39 does not function as a shield and does not deteriorate thetouch detection performance With the sheet resistance within the aboverange, the static electricity SE flows to the conductive adhesive layer39 from the polarizing plate 35, and the static electricity can bequickly discharged. Furthermore, the detection electrodes TDL can beprevented from being charged.

The term “sheet resistance” herein means a value of resistance that aresistive element having a square shape in planar view has between twoopposite edges thereof. The sheet resistance of the first shieldinglayer 51 can be measured by a well-known technique called four-terminalsensing, for example, by using conductive layers deposited on the secondsubstrate 31 by sputtering or the like.

As described above, the display device 1 of this embodiment includes:the second substrate 31; the detection electrodes TDL that are provided,in the display region 10 a, on a plane parallel to the second substrate31 and each include a plurality of metal wires (the first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V); a firstconductive layer (the first shielding layer 51) provided on theperipheral region 10 b outside the display region 10 a; the protectivelayer 38 provided on the detection electrodes TDL; the polarizing plate35 provided above the protective layer 38; and a second conductive layer(the conductive adhesive layer 39) provided between the polarizing plate35 and the protective layer 38 in a direction perpendicular to thesecond substrate 31. The conductive adhesive layer 39 has a higher sheetresistance than the metal wires and is in contact with the firstshielding layer 51.

The display device 1 of this embodiment has the conductive adhesivelayer 39 provided in contact with the first shielding layer 51.Consequently, the static electricity SE flows from the polarizing plate35 to the first shielding layer 51 through the conductive adhesive layer39. Consequently, the polarizing plate 35 can be prevented from beingcharged. Because the static electricity SE flows to the first shieldinglayer 51, the detection electrodes TDL as well can be prevented frombeing charged. As described above, the display device 1 of thisembodiment can prevent the static electricity SE from degrading thedisplay quality and reducing the touch detection accuracy.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a planview illustrating a protective layer according to the second embodiment.FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view taken along the XIII-XIII line inFIG. 14. As illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the protective layer 38in a display device 1A of this embodiment is provided overlapping thedetection electrodes TDL, the first shielding layer 51, the thirdshielding layer 53, and the fourth shielding layer 54. The protectivelayer 38 is provided so as not to overlap at least a part of the secondshielding layer 52. The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided on theentire surface of the protective layer 38 and is in contact with a partof the second shielding layer 52, the part not overlapping theprotective layer 38.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the protective layer 38has an opening 38 b and a recessed portion 38 c. The opening 38 b isformed in a position overlapping the terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36b. The terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36 b are exposed from theprotective layer 38 to be coupled to the flexible substrate 71 throughthe opening 38 b.

The recessed portion 38 c is formed in a region overlapping the secondshielding layer 52. That is, the recessed portion 38 c is formed in apart of the peripheral region 10 b, the part extending along one edgethereof and having the flexible substrate 71 coupled thereto. In thisembodiment, the second shielding layer 52 has some part overlapping theprotective layer 38 and the other part not overlapping the protectivelayer 38. That is, at least a part of the second shielding layer 52 isexposed form the protective layer 38. The conductive adhesive layer 39is in direct contact with the first conductive thin wires 33U and thesecond conductive thin wires 33V of the second shielding layer 52through the recessed portion 38 c of the protective layer 38. In otherwords, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is in contact with a part of thesecond shielding layer 52 in a part of the peripheral region 10 b, thepart extending along the edge thereof that has the terminal sections 36,36 a, and 36 b and not overlapping the protective layer 38.

The second shielding layer 52 is likely to have a higher resistance inthe part thereof not overlapping the protective layer 38 and be lessfunctional as a shield than in the other part thereof. Even in such acase, the second shielding layer 52 can secure electrical continuity atleast in the part thereof overlapping the protective layer 38. Thisexample is not limiting, and the protective layer 38 may be provided ina position not overlapping the second shielding layer 52. That is, theentire region of the second shielding layer 52 may be exposed from theprotective layer 38. In such a case, the contact area between the secondshielding layer 52 and the conductive adhesive layer 39 is larger.

The display device 1A of this embodiment also has the conductiveadhesive layer 39 provided in contact with the second shielding layer52. Consequently, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 12, staticelectricity SE flows from the polarizing plate 35 to the secondshielding layer 52 through the conductive adhesive layer 39.Consequently, the polarizing plate 35 can be prevented from beingcharged. Because the static electricity SE flows to the second shieldinglayer 52, the detection electrodes TDL as well can be prevented frombeing charged. As described above, the display device 1A of thisembodiment can prevent the static electricity SE from degrading thedisplay quality and reducing the touch detection accuracy.

This embodiment is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG.13 and FIG. 14, the conductive adhesive layer 39 may be in contact withthe third shielding layer 53 instead, or may be in contact with both thesecond shielding layer 52 and the third shielding layer 53. In suchcases, a recessed portion is formed in a part of the protective layer38, the part overlapping the third shielding layer 53, so that at leasta part of the third shielding layer 53 is thus exposed from theprotective layer 38.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a planview of a second substrate according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 isa plan view illustrating a protective layer according to the thirdembodiment. The sectional view illustrated in FIG. 15 is a view takenalong a direction different from a direction along which the sectionalviews illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 13 are taken. Specifically, FIG. 15is a sectional view taken along the XV-XV line in FIG. 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, a fifth shielding layer55 and a sixth shielding layer 56 are provided on the second substrate31 in the peripheral region 10 b. The fifth shielding layer 55 and thesixth shielding layer 56 are each provided in parts of the peripheralregion 10 b that extend along two edges thereof that face each other inthe first direction Dx. In other words, the fifth shielding layer 55 andthe sixth shielding layer 56 are provided in parts of the peripheralregion 10 b that extend in a direction intersecting one edge thereofalong which a part having the terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36 bextends.

The fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56 eachextend in the second direction Dy and are disposed facing opposite endsof each of the detection electrodes TDL. The fifth shielding layer 55and the sixth shielding layer 56 are disposed outside the detectionelectrodes TDL, the first wires 37 a, and the second wires 37 b.

The fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56 eachinclude first conductive thin wires 33U and second conductive thin wires33V. The fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56 areformed in respective mesh-like structures similar to those of the firstshielding layer 51, the second shielding layer 52, the third shieldinglayer 53, and the fourth shielding layer 54.

One end of the fifth shielding layer 55 is coupled to the firstshielding layer 51 via a wire 50 a. The other end of the fifth shieldinglayer 55 is coupled to the third shielding layer 53 and the terminalsection 36 b via another wire 50 a. One end of the sixth shielding layer56 is coupled to the first shielding layer 51 via a wire 50 b. The otherend of the sixth shielding layer 56 is coupled to the second shieldinglayer 52 and the terminal section 36 b via another wire 50 b. The fifthshielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56 are coupled to theflexible substrate 71 via the terminal section 36 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the protective layer 38 is providedoverlapping the detection electrodes TDL, the first wires 37 a, thesecond wires 37 b, the first shielding layer 51, the second shieldinglayer 52, the third shielding layer 53, and the fourth shielding layer54. The length of the protective layer 38 in the first direction Dx isshorter than the length of the second substrate 31 in the firstdirection Dx. Ends 38 d and 38 e of the protective layer 38 that faceeach other in the first direction Dx are each positioned closer to thedisplay region 10 a than the fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixthshielding layer 56 are. Consequently, at least a part of the fifthshielding layer 55 and at least a part of the sixth shielding layer 56are disposed in positions not overlapping the protective layer 38.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is providedon the entire surface of the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive layer 39 is in contact with the first conductive thin wires 33Uand the second conductive thin wires 33V of the fifth shielding layer 55and the sixth shielding layer 56 in a region outside of the ends 38 dand 38 e of the protective layer 38. In other words, the conductiveadhesive layer 39 is in contact with the fifth shielding layer 55 andthe sixth shielding layer 56 in parts of the peripheral region 10 b thatextend along opposite edges thereof intersecting the edge thereof alongwhich the part having the terminal sections 36, 36 a, and 36 b extends.

Also in a display device 1B in this embodiment, the conductive adhesivelayer 39 is provided in contact with the fifth shielding layer 55 andthe sixth shielding layer 56. Consequently, as in the case illustratedin FIG. 12, static electricity SE flows from the polarizing plate 35 tothe fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56 throughthe conductive adhesive layer 39. Consequently, the polarizing plate 35can be prevented from being charged. Because the static electricity SEflows to the fifth shielding layer 55 and the sixth shielding layer 56,the detection electrodes TDL as well can be prevented from beingcharged. As described above, the display device 1B of this embodimentcan prevent the static electricity SE from degrading the display qualityand reducing the touch detection accuracy.

The first to the third embodiments described above may be used incombination as appropriate. The conductive adhesive layer 39 may be incontact with all of the first shielding layer 51 to the sixth shieldinglayer 56. At least one of the first shielding layer 51 to the sixthshielding layer 56 needs to be provided. At least one of the firstshielding layer 51 to the sixth shielding layer 56 may be a conductivelayer that does not have the function of a shield and that hasconductivity.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is a planview illustrating a protective layer according to the fourth embodiment.FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the XVIII-XVIII line in FIG. 19.In a display device 1C of this embodiment, the conductive layer 59 isprovided above the second substrate 31. The conductive layer 59 isprovided between the second substrate 31 and the detection electrodesTDL in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the second substrate31.

The detection electrodes TDL, the first shielding layer 51, the secondshielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53, and the fourthshielding layer 54 (among which only the detection electrodes TDL andthe first shielding layer 51 are illustrated in FIG. 18) are provided incontact with the conductive layer 59. The protective layer 38 isprovided overlapping the detection electrodes TDL, the first shieldinglayer 51, the second shielding layer 52, the third shielding layer 53,and the fourth shielding layer 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the length of the protective layer 38 in thesecond direction Dy is shorter than the length of the second substrate31 in the second direction Dy. An end 38 f of the protective layer 38 inthe second direction Dy is positioned closer to the display region 10 athan the outer perimeter of the conductive layer 59 is. Thisconfiguration leaves a part of the conductive layer 59 exposed from theprotective layer 38.

The conductive layer 59 is formed on almost the entire surface of thesecond substrate 31, and is seamlessly provided on a plane correspondingto the entire display region 10 a and the peripheral region 10 b. Thatis, the conductive layer 59 has some parts overlapping the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V ofthe detection electrodes TDL and the other parts not overlapping thefirst conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires33V. Adjacent ones of the first conductive thin wires 33U are coupled toeach other, and adjacent ones of the second conductive thin wires 33Vare coupled to each other, by the parts of the conductive layer 59 thatare not overlapping the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is providedon the entire surface of the protective layer 38. The conductiveadhesive layer 39 is in contact with a part of the conductive layer 59in the peripheral region 10 b, the part not overlapping the protectivelayer 38.

The conductive layer 59 is preferably provided in a position such thatit overlaps the coupling wires 34 a and 34 b, the first wires 37 a, andthe second wires 37 b, as illustrated in FIG. 19. The area of theconductive layer 59 in planar view is larger than the total of the areasof the first conductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thinwires 33V.

The conductive layer 59 is provided as a preventative measure againstESD. The conductive layer 59 is a light-transmissive conductive layer,and contains at least one of ITO, indium zinc oxide (IZO), tin oxide(SnO), and a conductive organic film, for example The conductive layer59 may include an insulating oxide in addition to at least one of thematerials listed above. The conductive layer 59 may be made of alight-transmissive conductive layer such as any one of the followinglayers disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-openPublication No. 2007-148201 A and Japanese Patent Application Laid-openPublication No. 2013-142194 A: an oxide layer consisting primarily oftin dioxide (SnO₂) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂); another oxide layerconsisting primarily of gallium(III) oxide (Ga₂O₃), indium(II) oxide(In₂O₃), and tin dioxide (SnO₂); and a light-transmissive conductivelayer consisting primarily of ITO and also containing silicon (Si).

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining flows ofstatic electricity according to the fourth embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 20, when static electricity SE is applied to the surface ofpolarizing plate 35 from the outside, the static electricity SE flows tothe conductive adhesive layer 39 through the polarizing plate 35. Thestatic electricity SE that has flowed to the conductive adhesive layer39 then flows to the conductive layer 59. The conductive adhesive layer39 is thus provided in direct contact with the polarizing plate 35 andthe conductive layer 59. Consequently, the polarizing plate 35 can beprevented from being charged.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the conductive layer 59 overlaps the firstconductive thin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V ofthe first shielding layer 51 and the detection electrodes TDL in directcontact therewith. This configuration causes static electricity SEb toflow to the conductive layer 59 after the static electricity SE from theoutside flows to the first shielding layer 51 and the detectionelectrodes TDL.

As described above, each of the detection electrodes TDL includes thesensor sections TDLs and the dummy sections TDLd (see FIG. 9). Withoutthe conductive layer 59, the dummy sections TDLd are left uncoupled tothe sensor sections TDLs and various wires. This state makes it likelythat electric charges to be carried by the dummy sections TDLd when thestatic electricity SE is applied thereto from the outside cannot bedischarged readily as a result.

In this embodiment, the conductive layer 59 is in contact with thesensor sections TDLs and the dummy sections TDLd. After the staticelectricity SE flows from the outside reaches the dummy section TDLd,this configuration causes the static electricity SE to flow from thedummy section TDLd to the conductive layer 59. In this embodiment, theconductive layer 59 is provided in contact with the dummy sections TDLdof the detection electrodes TDL, so that electric charges carried by thedummy sections TDLd can be discharged quickly.

The static electricity SE that has flowed to the conductive layer 59then flows to a power supply and the ground potential (GND) through aresistive element included in the touch detector 40 and through anESD-protection circuit (not illustrated), that is, the staticelectricity SE is discharged. The conductive layer 59 may be groundedto, for example, a housing of the display device 1C.

The conductive layer 59 is preferably disposed on the second substrate31 from end to end thereof. The conductive layer 59 may further beelectrically coupled to the power supply or GND through a conductivetape or the like from the peripheral region 10 b.

In this embodiment, this configuration is provided with the conductiveadhesive layer 39 and the conductive layer 59 and thereby can preventthe polarizing plate 35 from being charged. Furthermore, in thisembodiment, static electricity SEa that otherwise flows from thedetection electrodes TDL to the drive electrodes COML through the liquidcrystal layer 6 can be prevented from thus flowing. Thus, the displaydevice 1C of this embodiment can prevent the static electricity SE fromdegrading the display quality and reducing the touch detection accuracy.

The conductive layer 59 has a sheet resistance, for example, within therange of 10⁸ to 10¹⁴ ohms per square. More preferably, the conductivelayer 59 has a sheet resistance, for example, within the range of 10⁹ to10¹³ ohms per square. The sheet resistance of the conductive layer 59 islower than the resistance of the polarizing plate 35. The sheetresistance of the conductive layer 59 is higher than the sheetresistances of the first conductive thin wires 33U and of the secondconductive thin wires 33V. The conductive layer 59 has a higher sheetresistance than the first shielding layer 51 and the detectionelectrodes TDL.

If the conductive layer 59 has a sheet resistance lower than 10⁸ ohmsper square, the conductive layer 59 is likely to function as a shieldand deteriorate the touch detection performance If the conductive layer59 has a sheet resistance higher than 10¹⁴ ohms per square, the staticelectricity SE is likely to be impeded from favorably flowing to theconductive layer 59. The conductive adhesive layer 39 preferably has asheet resistance less than or equal to the sheet resistance of theconductive layer 59. This condition prevents the polarizing plate 35from being charged with the static electricity SE, thereby enabling thestatic electricity SE to quickly flow from the polarizing plate 35 tothe conductive layer 59.

The sheet resistances of the conductive adhesive layer 39 and theconductive layer 59 are lower than the resistance of the polarizingplate 35, so that the static electricity SE favorably flows through theconductive adhesive layer 39 and the conductive layer 59. The sheetresistances of the conductive adhesive layer 39 and the conductive layer59 are each higher than the sheet resistances of the first conductivethin wires 33U and the second conductive thin wires 33V, so that theconductive adhesive layer 39 and the conductive layer 59 do not functionas a shield and do not deteriorate the touch detection performance Withthe sheet resistances within the above ranges, the static electricity SEflows to the conductive adhesive layer 39 and the conductive layer 59from the polarizing plate 35, and the static electricity can be quicklydischarged. Furthermore, the detection electrodes TDL can be preventedfrom being charged.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 21 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 22 is a planview of a second substrate according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 23 isa plan view partially illustrating, in an enlarged manner, a detectionelectrode according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a sectional viewtaken along the XXI-XXI line in FIG. 22. While the display devices 1 and1A to 1C to perform mutual capacitance touch detection have beendescribed above in the first to the fourth embodiments, these examplesare not limiting. A display device 1D of this embodiment performsself-capacitance touch detection using a detection electrode TDLA.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the detection electrode TDLA and a seventhshielding layer 57 are provided on the second substrate 31. Theprotective layer 38 is provided on the detection electrode TDLA. Theconductive adhesive layer 39 is provided between the protective layer 38and the polarizing plate 35. The conductive adhesive layer 39 isprovided on the entire surface of the protective layer 38. Furthermore,the conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided in contact with a part ofthe seventh shielding layer 57, the part not overlapping the protectivelayer 38.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the detection electrode TDLA includes aplurality of small electrode sections TA disposed in a matrix(row-column configuration). Each of these small electrode sections TAincludes a plurality of metal wires 33 e and a plurality of metal wires33 f. The metal wires 33 e and the metal wires 33 f have the samestructure as the first conductive thin wires 33U and the secondconductive thin wires 33V (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). That is, when themetal wires 33 e intersect the metal wires 33 f, each opening of a meshformed by the detection electrode TDLA forms a parallelogram. The metalwires 33 e are arranged side by side, and the metal wires 33 f arearranged side by side, in the display region 10 a in the seconddirection Dy, so that the metal wires forming a mesh-like pattern areformed in almost the entire display region 10 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the small electrode sections TA are disposedin a matrix with spaces between adjacent ones thereof. The smallelectrode sections TA that are arranged side by side in the firstdirection Dx are electrically isolated from one another by slitsprovided in positions indicated by dotted lines 91 a. The smallelectrode sections TA that are arranged side by side in the seconddirection Dy are electrically isolated from one another by slitsprovided in positions indicated by dotted lines 91 b. These smallelectrode sections TA are coupled to the flexible substrate 71 via wires37A provided in the peripheral region 10 b.

In this embodiment, these small electrode sections TA each function as adetection electrode. The display device 1D of this embodiment is capableof detecting, based on the self-capacitances of the small electrodesections TA, a detected object, such as a finger. The drive-electrodedriver 14 (see FIG. 1) supplies drive signals to these small electrodesections TA in the display region 10 a simultaneously or in atime-division manner. The small electrode sections TA output signals tothe voltage detector DET (see FIG. 3), the signals being based onchanges in capacitance of the respective small electrode sections TA.The detector 40 thus performs self-capacitance touch detection. In thiscase, the drive electrodes COML illustrated in FIG. 21 do not functionas drive electrodes during touch detection, but function as commonelectrodes during display operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the seventh shielding layer 57 is provided onthe second substrate 31 in the peripheral region 10 b. The seventhshielding layer 57 has metal wires forming the same mesh-like pattern asthe detection electrode TDLA. The seventh shielding layer 57 is providedin a part of the peripheral region 10 b, the part extending along oneedge thereof opposite across the display region 10 a to another edgethereof along which a part having the flexible substrates 71 and 72coupled thereto extends. The seventh shielding layer 57 is coupled tothe flexible substrate 71 via wires 50 c and 50 d.

The detailed configuration of the detection electrode TDLA of thisembodiment is described next. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the detectionelectrode TDLA according to this embodiment includes small electrodesections TA11, TA21, TA31, TA12, TA22, and TA32. The small electrodesection TA11 includes a plurality of metal wires 33 e and a plurality ofthe metal wires 33 f, the plurality of metal wires 33 e and theplurality of metal wires 33 f extending in the second direction Dy on aplane parallel to the second substrate 31 (see FIG. 21). These metalwires 33 e and these metal wires 33 f are alternately arranged in thesecond direction Dy while being coupled to one another. The metal wires33 e and the metal wires 33 f are formed of the same material, for whichat least one of the above-listed metal materials is used.

These metal wires 33 e and these metal wires 33 f are electricallycontinuous to one another through intersections TDX. These metal wires33 e and these metal wires 33 f form enclosed regions mesh 1 eachenclosed by thin wire fragments Ua and thin wire fragments Ub. Thesemetal wires 33 e and these metal wires 33 f may be coupled to oneanother through portions other than the intersections TDX. For example,these metal wires 33 e and these metal wires 33 f may be coupled andelectrically continuous to one another through intermediate portions ofthe thin wire fragments Ua of the metal wires 33 e and intermediateportions of the thin wire fragments Ub of the metal wires 33 f. Each ofthe small electrode sections TA21, TA31, TA12, TA22, and TA32 has thesame structure as the small electrode section TA11.

The small electrode section TA11 is coupled via a wire section TB11 to aterminal section TE1 formed in the peripheral region 10 b. The wiresection TB11 has a structure having a plurality of thin wire fragmentsUa and a plurality of thin wire fragments Ub alternately arranged in thesecond direction Dy and coupled to one another, and extends from thesmall electrode section TA11 to the peripheral region 10 b in the firstdirection Dx.

Likewise, the small electrode section TA21 is coupled via a wire sectionTB21 to a terminal section TE2 formed in the peripheral region 10 b. Thesmall electrode section TA12 is coupled via a wire section TB12 to aterminal section TE4 formed in the peripheral region 10 b. The smallelectrode section TA22 is coupled via a wire section TB22 to a terminalsection TE5 formed in the peripheral region 10 b.

In the same manner as the wire section TB11, each of the wire sectionsTB21, TB12, and TB22 has a structure having a plurality of thin wirefragments Ua and a plurality of thin wire fragments Ub alternatelyarranged in the second direction Dy and coupled to one another. Thesmall electrode section TA31 is positioned in an end of the displayregion 10 a. For this reason, the small electrode section TA31 iscoupled directly to a terminal section TE3 formed in the peripheralregion 10 b. Likewise, the small electrode section TA32 is coupleddirectly to a terminal section TE6 formed in the peripheral region 10 b.The terminal sections TE1, TE2, . . . , and TE6 are coupled to the wires37A illustrated in FIG. 22.

A dummy electrode TDD includes thin wire fragments Uc and thin wirefragments Ud. The thin wire fragments Uc each have a shape substantiallyidentical to the shape of each of the thin wire fragments Ua. The thinwire fragments Ud each have a shape substantially identical to the shapeof each of the thin wire fragments Ub. The thin wire fragments Uc aredisposed in parallel to the thin wire fragments Ua, and the thin wirefragments Ud are disposed in parallel to the thin wire fragments Ub. Thethin wire fragments Uc and the thin wire fragments Ud are disposed sothat an enclosed region mesh 2 enclosed by two of the thin wirefragments Uc and two of the thin wire fragments Ud can have the samearea as the enclosed region mesh 1. This configuration reduces thedifference in light blocking level between a region having the detectionelectrode TDLA disposed therein and the other region, thereby loweringthe likelihood that the detection electrode TDLA becomes readilyvisible.

The above configuration enables the display device 1D to have a highertouch detection probability because, even if the metal wires 33 e or themetal wires 33 f have a part that has become thinner to the extent thatthe electrical continuity through this part is unreliable, the metalwires having this part are coupled through the intersections TDX to themetal wires 33 e or 33 f that do not include this part.

Also in this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the conductiveadhesive layer 39 is in contact with the seventh shielding layer 57 in apart of the peripheral region 10 b, the part extending along an edgethereof opposite across the display region 10 a to another edge thereofalong which the part having the flexible substrate 71 extends.Consequently, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 12, staticelectricity SE flows from the polarizing plate 35 to the seventhshielding layer 57 through the conductive adhesive layer 39.Consequently, the polarizing plate 35 can be prevented from beingcharged. Because the static electricity SE flows to the seventhshielding layer 57, the detection electrodes TDLA as well can beprevented from being charged. As described above, the display device 1Dof this embodiment can prevent the static electricity SE from degradingthe display quality and reducing the touch detection accuracy.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 24 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 25 is a planview of a first substrate according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 26 isa plan view of a second substrate according to the sixth embodiment.FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along the XXIV-XXIV line in FIG. 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, a plurality of drive electrodesCOMLA are arranged on the first substrate 21. In a display device 1E ofthis embodiment, the drive electrodes COMLA function as detectionelectrodes for touch detection. For this reason, none of the detectionelectrodes TDL and TDLA are provided on the second substrate 31 asillustrated in FIG. 24. The first shielding layer 51, an eighthshielding layer 58, and the protective layer 38 are provided on thesecond substrate 31.

The conductive adhesive layer 39 is provided on almost the entiresurface of the second substrate 31 and between the protective layer 38and the polarizing plate 35. The first shielding layer 51 and the eighthshielding layer 58 are provided between the second substrate 31 and theconductive adhesive layer 39 in a direction perpendicular to a surfaceof the second substrate 31. Consequently, the conductive adhesive layer39 is in contact with the first shielding layer 51 and the eighthshielding layer 58. The eighth shielding layer 58 is electricallycoupled to the first substrate 21 via a coupling member 73. A couplingsection 73 a of the coupling member 73 is coupled to the first substrate21.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, a plurality of the drive electrodes COMLA aredisposed in a matrix (row-column configuration) in the display region 10a of the first substrate 21. In other words, a plurality of the driveelectrodes COMLA are arranged in the first direction Dx and the seconddirection Dy. A plurality of pixel electrodes 22 are arrangedoverlapping each of the drive electrodes COMLA. While part of the driveelectrodes COMLA and the pixel electrodes 22 are illustrated in FIG. 25,the drive electrodes COMLA and the pixel electrodes 22 are disposed inmatrix (row-column configuration) in the entire display region 10 a.

The drive electrodes COMLA are coupled to a drive-electrode driver 14Bvia respective wires 37. During display operation, the drive-electrodedriver 14B supplies display drive signals Vcomdc to all the driveelectrodes COMLA.

During self-capacitance touch detection, the drive-electrode driver 14Bsupplies detection drive signals Vcom to the drive electrodes COMLAsimultaneously or in a time-division manner. The drive electrodes COMLAoutput signals depending on a change in the capacitance of the driveelectrodes COMLA to the voltage detector DET. Based on sensor-outputsignals from the respective drive electrodes COMLA, the display device1E performs touch detection on the touch detection surface. In otherwords, the drive electrodes COMLA functions as common electrodes duringdisplay operation, and also functions as detection electrodes duringtouch detection by the self-capacitance method.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, none of the detection electrodes TDL and TDLAare provided on the second substrate 31 in the display region 10 a. Thefirst shielding layer 51 and the eighth shielding layer 58 are providedin the peripheral region 10 b of the second substrate 31. The eighthshielding layer 58 includes first conductive thin wires 33U and secondconductive thin wires 33V and is formed in a mesh-like structure similarto the first shielding layer 51.

The first shielding layer 51 as a whole extends in the first directionDx, and is provided along one edge of the outer perimeter of the displayregion 10 a. The eighth shielding layer 58 is provided, in theperipheral region 10 b, opposite across the display region 10 a to thefirst shielding layer 51. That is, the eighth shielding layer 58 facesthe first shielding layer 51 across the display region 10 a in thesecond direction Dy.

A wire 50 e is coupled to one end of the first shielding layer 51, and awire 50 f is coupled to the other end thereof. The wire 50 e is providedalong one of the long edges of the peripheral region 10 b. The wire 50 fis provided along the other long edge of the peripheral region 10 b. Thewires 50 e and 50 f are individually coupled to the eighth shieldinglayer 58. As a result of this configuration, the first shielding layer51, the wires 50 e and 50 f, and the eighth shielding layer 58 arecoupled to one another in a loop.

The coupling member 73 is coupled to the eighth shielding layer 58. Thecoupling member 73 is, for example, a conductive tape. The firstshielding layer 51 and the eighth shielding layer 58 are coupled to thefirst substrate 21 via the coupling member 73. The first shielding layer51 and the eighth shielding layer 58 are electrically coupled to theflexible substrate 72 of the first substrate 21. Alternatively, thefirst shielding layer 51 and the eighth shielding layer 58 may begrounded via the coupling member 73 to, for example, a housing of thedisplay device 1E.

FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuitaccording to the sixth embodiment. A drive circuit 14Ba illustrated inFIG. 27 is a scanner circuit that sequentially scans the driveelectrodes COMLA. The drive circuit 14Ba is included in thedrive-electrode driver 14B illustrated in FIG. 25, and is provided inthe peripheral region 10 b of the first substrate 21.

The drive electrodes COMLA are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 27. Inthe drive electrodes COMLA, for example, m drive electrodes COMLA arearranged in the first direction Dx, and n drive electrodes COMLA arearranged in the second direction Dy. Respective lines of the driveelectrodes COMLA are coupled to respective wires 37(1), 37(2), . . . ,37(n−1), and 37(n), the lines being arranged in parallel to one anotherin the second direction Dy.

The drive circuit 14Ba includes switches SW21, switches SW22, wires LC,LD(1), LD(2), . . . , LD(n−1), and LD(n), and shift registers 75(1), . .. , and 75(m). The respective shift registers 75(1), . . . , and 75(m)are provided corresponding to lines of drive electrodes COMLA, the linesbeing arranged in parallel to one another in the first direction Dx.

In the following description, the term “shift register 75” is used torepresent each of the shift registers 75(1), . . . , and 75(m) whenthere is no need to distinguish therebetween in description thereof. Theterm “wire 37” is used to represent each of the wires 37(1), 37(2), . .. , 37(n−1), and 37(n) when there is no need to distinguish therebetweenin description thereof. The term “wire LD” is used to represent each ofthe wires LD(1), LD(2), . . . , LD(n−1), and LD(n) when there is no needto distinguish therebetween in description thereof.

The respective switches SW21 and the respective switches SW22 arecoupled to the drive electrodes COMLA. One end of each of the switchesSW21 is coupled via the corresponding wire 37 to the corresponding driveelectrode COMLA. The other end of the switch SW21 is coupled to the wireLC. One end of each of the switches SW22 is coupled via thecorresponding wire 37 to the corresponding drive electrode COMLA. Theother end of the switch SW22 is coupled to the wire LD. The wires LD(1),LD(2), . . . , LD(n−1), and LD(n) are provided corresponding to thewires 37(1), 37(2), . . . , 37(n−1), and 37(n), respectively. Each ofthe shift registers 75 corresponds to the drive electrodes COMLA thatare arranged side by side in the second direction Dy.

Operation of the switches SW21 and the switches SW22 is controlled byscanning signals supplied from the corresponding shift registers 75. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 27, each of the switches SW21 and thecorresponding switch SW22 operate in reverse manners. For example, whenthe same scanning signal is supplied, the switch SW22 is turned off ifthe switch SW21 is turned on, and the switch SW22 is turned on if theswitch SW21 is turned off.

Display drive signals Vcomdc are supplied to the drive electrodes COMLAvia the wire LC. Detection drive signals Vcom are supplied to the driveelectrodes COMLA via the wires LD.

In this embodiment, the shift registers 75(1), . . . , and 75(m) startscanning in response to scanning-start signals from the controller 11.The shift registers 75(1), . . . , and 75(m) sequentially supplyscanning signals in synchronization with clock signals from thecontroller 11.

Each of the switches SW21 is turned off and the corresponding switchSW22 is turned on, in response to a scanning signal supplied from thecorresponding shift register 75. Consequently, a drive signal Vcom issupplied via one of the wires LD and one of the switches SW22 to thedrive electrode COMLA that is to be driven. In the example illustratedin FIG. 27, the drive electrodes COMLA that are arranged side by side inthe second direction Dy are concurrently selected by a scanning signalfrom the corresponding shift register 75. The drive signals Vcom arethen concurrently supplied via the wires LD(1), LD(2), . . . , LD(n−1),and LD(n) and the wires 37(1), 37(2), . . . , 37(n−1), and 37(n) to thedrive electrodes COMLA that are arranged side by side in the seconddirection Dy.

In contrast, each of the switches SW21 is turned on and thecorresponding switch SW22 is turned off, if there is no scanning signalsupplied. Consequently, a drive signal Vcomdc is supplied via the wireLC and the switch SW21 to an unselected one of the drive electrodesCOMLA that has not been selected as a drive electrode to be driven.

The eighth shielding layer 58 is disposed overlapping parts of therespective wires LC and LD, the respective switches SW21, and therespective switches SW22 of the drive circuit 14Ba in planar view. Thisconfiguration enables the eighth shielding layer 58 to shieldelectromagnetic noise generated by the drive circuit 14Ba. Consequently,the detection performance can be prevented from being deteriorated bynoise generated by the drive circuit 14Ba.

Also in this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the conductiveadhesive layer 39 is in contact with the eighth shielding layer 58 inthe peripheral region 10 b. Consequently, as in the example illustratedin FIG. 12, static electricity SE flows from the polarizing plate 35 tothe eighth shielding layer 58 through the conductive adhesive layer 39.The static electricity SE flows via the coupling member 73 to, forexample, the housing of the display device 1E. Consequently, thepolarizing plate 35 can be prevented from being charged. The staticelectricity SE flows to the eighth shielding layer 58, and thereby canbe prevented from flowing to the drive electrode COMLA. As describedabove, the display device 1E of this embodiment can prevent the staticelectricity SE from degrading the display quality and reducing the touchdetection accuracy.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 28 is a sectional view representing a schematic sectional structureof a display device according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 29 is a planview of a first substrate according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 30is a plan view of a second substrate according to the seventhembodiment. FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken along the XXVIII-XXVIIIline in FIG. 29.

Also in a display device 1F of this embodiment, the drive electrodesCOMLA function as detection electrodes for touch detection. Asillustrated in FIG. 28, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is providedbetween the second substrate 31 and the polarizing plate 35. Theconductive adhesive layer 39 is provided on and in direct contact withalmost the entire surface of the second substrate 31.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, terminal sections 76 are provided in theperipheral region 10 b of the second substrate 31. In planar view, theterminal sections 76 are provided in positions overlapping a guard ring28 to be described later. In the example illustrated in FIG. 30, thereare two such terminal sections 76. However, this example is notlimiting, and only one terminal section 76 or three or more terminalsections 76 may be provided. The positions of the terminal sections 76are not particularly limited, and may be any positions that overlap theguard ring 28. In this embodiment, none of the detection electrodes TDLand TDLA are provided on the second substrate 31 in the display region10 a, and none of the first shielding layer 51, the eighth shieldinglayer 58, and the like are provided in the peripheral region 10 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, a through-hole 31A is provided to theperipheral region 10 b of the second substrate 31. The through-hole 31Ais provided penetrating the second substrate 31 from one of the surfacesthereof to the other surface. Another through-hole 61A is provided tothe sealing section 61. The through-hole 61A is provided penetrating apart between the first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31. Arecessed portion 21A is further provided on a surface of the firstsubstrate 21, the surface facing the sealing section 61. Thethrough-hole 31A, the through-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21A areprovided communicating with one another.

The through-hole 31A, the through-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21Acan be formed by etching, laser processing, or the like. For example,the through-hole 31A, the through-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21Acan be formed at one time by irradiated, with laser, a laminate that hasthe first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31 stacked with thesealing section 61 therebetween. In such a case, a carbon dioxide laserapparatus is applicable as a laser source. This example is not limiting,and the laser source may be any laser source capable of making holes inglass materials and organic-matter based materials and may be, forexample, an excimer laser apparatus.

A coupling member 77 is provided inside the through-hole 31A, thethrough-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21A. The coupling member 77contains a conductive material such as copper (Cu) or silver (Ag). Thethrough-hole 31A, the through-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21A arefilled with the coupling member 77. This example is not limiting, andthe coupling member 77 may be provided inside the through-hole 31A, thethrough-hole 61A, and the recessed portion 21A and may have a shape witha void inside in planar view.

The coupling member 77 couples the terminal section 76 provided on thesecond substrate 31 to the guard ring 28 provided on the first substrate21. This configuration allows the conductive adhesive layer 39 to beelectrically coupled to the guard ring 28 via the through-hole 31A andthe through-hole 61A.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, the guard ring 28 is provided in theperipheral region 10 b of the first substrate 21. The guard ring 28 isprovided along three edges of the peripheral region 10 b other than theedge thereof having the flexible substrate 72. One end of the guard ring28 is coupled to the display IC 19 via a wire 29 a, and the other endthereof is coupled to the display IC 19 via a wire 29 b. In a regionenclosed by the guard ring 28 and the wires 29 a and 29 b, variouscircuits such as the gate driver 12 and the drive-electrode driver 14B,the drive electrodes COMLA, and wires 37 are disposed.

The drive-electrode driver 14 (see FIG. 1) supplies a guard signal tothe guard ring 28 during touch detection. The guard signal is a voltagesignal synchronized with and having the same potential as a drive signalVcom. This guard signal drives the guard ring 28 at the same potentialas the drive electrodes COMLA. Consequently, a parasitic capacitance ofthe drive electrode COMLA is reduced, and higher touch detectionperformance can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the conductive adhesive layer 39 is coupled to theguard ring 28 via the terminal section 76 and the coupling member 77.This configuration causes static electricity SE to flow from thepolarizing plate 35 to the guard ring 28 through the conductive adhesivelayer 39, the terminal section 76, and the coupling member 77. Thestatic electricity SE flows through the guard ring 28 to, for example, ahousing of the display device 1F. Consequently, the polarizing plate 35can be prevented from being charged. The static electricity SE flows tothe guard ring 28, and thereby can be prevented from flowing to thedrive electrodes COMLA. As described above, the display device 1F ofthis embodiment can prevent the static electricity SE from degrading thedisplay quality and reducing the touch detection accuracy.

Although the conductive adhesive layer 39 is coupled to the guard ring28 in this embodiment, this example is not limiting. The conductiveadhesive layer 39 may be coupled via the through-hole 31A to aconductive layer provided between the conductive adhesive layer 39 andthe first substrate 21. Although this embodiment illustrates the guardring 28 as being provided along three edges of the peripheral region 10b, this example is not limiting. The guard ring 28 may be provided alongat least one of the edges of the peripheral region 10 b. The guard ring28 may be provided along any two edges of the peripheral region 10 b. Insuch a case, the two edges may be edges intersecting or parallel to eachother. Preferably, however, the guard ring 28 is provided along thewires 37 in order to prevent the touch detection accuracy from beingreduced by noise.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedheretofore, these embodiments are not intended to limit the presentinvention. Descriptions disclosed in these embodiments are merelyillustrative, and can be changed variously without departing from thespirit of the present invention. Changes made without departing from thespirit of the present invention naturally fall within the technicalscope of the present invention.

The display device according to embodiments can have the followingaspects.

-   (1) A detection device comprising:

a substrate;

a detection electrode provided in a display region on a plane parallelto the substrate, the detection electrode including a plurality of metalwires;

a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral region located to theoutside of the display region;

a protective layer provided on the detection electrode;

a polarizing plate provided above the protective layer; and

a second conductive layer provided between the polarizing plate and theprotective layer in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, wherein

the second conductive layer has a higher sheet resistance than the metalwires and is electrically coupled to the first conductive layer.

-   (2) The detection device according to (1), wherein

a terminal section coupled to a flexible substrate is provided on thesubstrate in a first part of the peripheral region, the first partextending along a first edge of the peripheral region, and

the first conductive layer is provided in a second part of theperipheral region, the second part extending along a second edge of theperipheral region, the second edge being opposite across the displayregion to the first edge.

-   (3) The detection device according to (1), wherein

a terminal section coupled to a flexible substrate is provided on thesubstrate in a first part of the peripheral region, the first partextending along a first edge of the peripheral region, and

the first conductive layer is provided in the first part.

-   (4) The detection device according to (1), wherein

a terminal section coupled to a flexible substrate is provided on thesubstrate in a first part of the peripheral region, the first partextending along a first edge of the peripheral region, and

the first conductive layer is provided in a third part of the peripheralregion, the third part extending along a third edge of the peripheralregion, the third edge extending in a direction intersecting the firstedge.

-   (5) The detection device according to (1), wherein the second    conductive layer has a sheet resistance that is lower than a sheet    resistance of the polarizing plate and higher than a sheet    resistance of the first conductive layer.-   (6) The detection device according to (1), wherein the first    conductive layer is supplied with a voltage signal having a    potential equal to a potential of the detection electrode.-   (7) The detection device according to (1), wherein the first    conductive layer includes a plurality of wires forming a mesh-like    pattern.-   (8) The detection device according to (1), wherein

the first conductive layer is provided in the display region and theperipheral region, the first conductive layer being in contact with themetal wires, the first conductive layer being provided between thesubstrate and the metal wires in a direction perpendicular to thesubstrate, and

the second conductive layer is in contact with a part of the firstconductive layer, the part being provided outside the detectionelectrode.

-   (9) The detection device according to (8), wherein the second    conductive layer has a sheet resistance that is lower than a sheet    resistance of the polarizing plate and equal to or lower than a    sheet resistance of the first conductive layer.-   (10) The detection device according to (8), wherein each of the    first conductive layer and the second conductive layer is a    light-transmissive conductive layer.-   (11) The detection device according to (1), wherein a plurality of    detection electrodes are disposed in a matrix configuration in the    display region.-   (12) The detection device according to (1), wherein the second    conductive layer is a conductive adhesive layer.-   (13) The detection device according to (1), wherein:

the protective layer has a recessed portion,

the second conductive layer is in direct contact with the firstconductive layer via the recessed portion.

-   (14) A display device comprising:

a detection device according to (1);

a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a plane parallel to thesubstrate, the pixel electrodes being disposed facing the detectionelectrode in a matrix configuration; and

a display function layer configured to be driven by signals.

-   (15) The display device according to (14), further comprising:

a drive electrode provided on a plane parallel to the substrate, thedrive electrode being configured to generate a capacitance between thedrive electrode and the detection electrode.

-   (16) A detection device comprising:

a first substrate;

a plurality of detection electrodes disposed in a matrix configurationin a display region on a plane parallel to the first substrate;

a second substrate facing the first substrate;

a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral region located to theoutside the display region in planar view;

a polarizing plate provided above the second substrate; and

a second conductive layer provided between the polarizing plate and thesecond substrate, wherein

the second conductive layer is electrically coupled to the firstconductive layer.

-   (17) The detection device according to (16), wherein the first    conductive layer is provided between the second substrate and the    second conductive layer in a direction perpendicular to a surface of    the second substrate.-   (18) The detection device according to (17), wherein the first    conductive layer is electrically coupled via a conductive coupling    member toward the first substrate.-   (19) The detection device according to (16), wherein

the first conductive layer is provided in the peripheral region of thefirst substrate, and

the second conductive layer is electrically coupled to the firstconductive layer via a through-hole formed through the second substrate.

What is claimed is:
 1. A detection device comprising: a substrate; adetection electrode provided in a display region on a plane parallel tothe substrate, the detection electrode including a plurality of metalwires; a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral region locatedto the outside of the display region; a protective layer provided on thedetection electrode; a polarizing plate provided above the protectivelayer; and a second conductive layer provided between the polarizingplate and the protective layer in a direction perpendicular to thesubstrate, wherein the second conductive layer has a higher sheetresistance than the metal wires and is electrically coupled to the firstconductive layer.
 2. The detection device according to claim 1, whereina terminal section coupled to a flexible substrate is provided on thesubstrate in a first part of the peripheral region, the first partextending along a first edge of the peripheral region, and the firstconductive layer is provided in a second part of the peripheral region,the second part extending along a second edge of the peripheral region,the second edge being opposite across the display region to the firstedge.
 3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein a terminalsection coupled to a flexible substrate is provided on the substrate ina first part of the peripheral region, the first part extending along afirst edge of the peripheral region, and the first conductive layer isprovided in the first part.
 4. The detection device according to claim1, wherein a terminal section coupled to a flexible substrate isprovided on the substrate in a first part of the peripheral region, thefirst part extending along a first edge of the peripheral region, andthe first conductive layer is provided in a third part of the peripheralregion, the third part extending along a third edge of the peripheralregion, the third edge extending in a direction intersecting the firstedge.
 5. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the secondconductive layer has a sheet resistance that is lower than a sheetresistance of the polarizing plate and higher than a sheet resistance ofthe first conductive layer.
 6. The detection device according to claim1, wherein the first conductive layer is supplied with a voltage signalhaving a potential equal to a potential of the detection electrode. 7.The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductivelayer includes a plurality of wires forming a mesh-like pattern.
 8. Thedetection device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductivelayer is provided in the display region and the peripheral region, thefirst conductive layer being in contact with the metal wires, the firstconductive layer being provided between the substrate and the metalwires in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, and the secondconductive layer is in contact with a part of the first conductivelayer, the part being provided outside the detection electrode.
 9. Thedetection device according to claim 8, wherein the second conductivelayer has a sheet resistance that is lower than a sheet resistance ofthe polarizing plate and equal to or lower than a sheet resistance ofthe first conductive layer.
 10. The detection device according to claim8, wherein each of the first conductive layer and the second conductivelayer is a light-transmissive conductive layer.
 11. The detection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a plurality of detection electrodes aredisposed in a matrix configuration in the display region.
 12. Thedetection device according to claim 1, wherein the second conductivelayer is a conductive adhesive layer.
 13. The detection device accordingto claim 1, wherein: the protective layer has a recessed portion, thesecond conductive layer is in direct contact with the first conductivelayer via the recessed portion.
 14. A display device comprising: adetection device according to claim 1; a plurality of pixel electrodesprovided on a plane parallel to the substrate, the pixel electrodesbeing disposed facing the detection electrode in a matrix configuration;and a display function layer configured to be driven by signals.
 15. Thedisplay device according to claim 14, further comprising: a driveelectrode provided on a plane parallel to the substrate, the driveelectrode being configured to generate a capacitance between the driveelectrode and the detection electrode.
 16. A detection devicecomprising: a first substrate; a plurality of detection electrodesdisposed in a matrix configuration in a display region on a planeparallel to the first substrate; a second substrate facing the firstsubstrate; a first conductive layer provided in a peripheral regionlocated to the outside the display region in planar view; a polarizingplate provided above the second substrate; and a second conductive layerprovided between the polarizing plate and the second substrate, whereinthe second conductive layer is electrically coupled to the firstconductive layer.
 17. The detection device according to claim 16,wherein the first conductive layer is provided between the secondsubstrate and the second conductive layer in a direction perpendicularto a surface of the second substrate.
 18. The detection device accordingto claim 17, wherein the first conductive layer is electrically coupledvia a conductive coupling member toward the first substrate.
 19. Thedetection device according to claim 16, wherein the first conductivelayer is provided in the peripheral region of the first substrate, andthe second conductive layer is electrically coupled to the firstconductive layer via a through-hole formed through the second substrate.